I remember reading about how you are nursing the twins, (still!) and I am intrigued!
Have you posted about how that all goes/went etc.? I just find it fascinating that somebody could actually nurse twins. Do they both get hungry at the same time? In the beginning when it takes like 45 minutes for the newborn to eat, did you have to have 45 mins of one then the other would get hungry? or half way through the other would get hungry and you'd be nursing one while the other screams?
In the MOTN was it just basically you getting up 10 times a night to feed one or the other?
Did/Do you make enough milk for both the whole time? When you pump do you need giant bottles?!
Sorry for all the questions I just feel like I couldn't possibly nurse twins and I don't know how you do it!
I remember reading about how you are nursing the twins, (still!) and I am intrigued!
Have you posted about how that all goes/went etc.? I just find it fascinating that somebody could actually nurse twins. Do they both get hungry at the same time? In the beginning when it takes like 45 minutes for the newborn to eat, did you have to have 45 mins of one then the other would get hungry? or half way through the other would get hungry and you'd be nursing one while the other screams?
In the MOTN was it just basically you getting up 10 times a night to feed one or the other?
Did/Do you make enough milk for both the whole time? When you pump do you need giant bottles?!
Sorry for all the questions I just feel like I couldn't possibly nurse twins and I don't know how you do it!
Oh geez. I may answer in twp parts. I just got home from a long work day and need to pump (since I missed bedtime) and I'm exhausted
The boys spend over a month in the NICU. So I pumped every 3 hours around the clock. Once they got a little bigger and I could attempt breast feeding (still in the NICU), I would try but they could not figure out how to latch and would tire quickly. My milk supply was pretty good until about 3 weeks into their stay. It really took a hit. I was drinking a ton, and eating, but I think stress and being separated and having preemies confused my boobs. It was not a fun time. The NICU pumping rooms were covered in posters highlighting why BM is best. I can still feel my anxiety level rise thinking back to that time. I would sit there and cry while wishing more milk would come out because I though my boys were already preemies and BM would help them be smarter, have less ear infections, live longer, etc. I felt like I was failing them.
For the first month after they were home, I would attempt to nurse them one at a time with nipple shields. They could only nurse (when they got it) for 5 minutes before being too tired. Then I would pump. At night I only pumped and they got bottles at the same time. The NICU was great for getting them on the same eating scheduled. Month 2-5 was hell. I wanted to quit so so so many times. I was on fenugreek, drinking the teas, milk thistle, gallons of water. I called LC who basically told me to quit. I called LLL and honestly, she was awesome. She said to power pump a few times and just try a weekend of just breastfeeding. Every 2 hours, just try it. I did. They survived. I started making more milk as they were BF more. I was exhausted doing the BF/feed/pump routine every 3 hours even though H helped with one baby, it was still a lot, so I was happy to cut some of that work out. since the boys were never good at latching, my nipples were a mess even with the shields. I would have H pinch my thighs as the boys would latch and i would punch the couch and scream. it was one of the most painful things ive had in my life. Lanolin was worthless. EMAB was much better.
Once they were a little better at eating, I started trying to BF at night. Then Around 5 months, I kept trying them without the nipple shield until they got it. I would always feed them at the same time, in a football hold with H helping hold a baby up. Or I would cradle both their heads up against me. It finally got easier around 6 months. I really cant believe I didnt give up. But months 5-8 they were almost exclusively BF. They did get some formula since they needed the increased calorie kind, but it was like 3 ounces every couple days. Once they started needing more than 4 ounces a feeding, it became harder to keep up. So I would nurse and they would get a bottle a couple times a day. I pumped at work every 3 hours. I have become pretty good at tandem nursing, ive even done it in the middle of the Boston public gardens
At around 9 months, I could tell my supply was shrinking even though I hadnt changed anything. I didnt want to go back on the pills so I was ok with it. I nurse them in the morning and at night and a couple times a day but they get formula 3 times a day. When I pump, I only get about 7 ounces a session (i only pump 2 times a day at work now). Nursing them in general is more difficult because they are so squirmy. They only take 5 ounce bottles, but no way am I givingthem all they need. All the milk I pumped since going back to work (part time) is in the freezer. I have enough to give them a bottle a day until they are 1, but my new goal is to nurse for a year. And then i'm going to stop pumping and just nurse on demand.
I'll post a pic of tandem nursing later in the week when I'm home. Hope I answered everything! I'll check back tomorrow night
I think I am just stubborn and I am used to pushing myself, so this was one more challenge in a way. And I really can't emphasize enough how much of a mind fuck the NICU stay (and the hours spent in pumping rooms and surrounded by BFing posters and pamphlets, etc.) was. My H is a Harvard grad and was formula fed. He kept saying its ok to stop, but all I could think was NO! The boys already have so many strikes against them being preemies, BFing will make them _________ fill that in with whatever crazy thought I had.
When I am totally done nursing, I am going to go out and get shitfaced, which will take all of 1.5 glasses of wine. And get a boob lift in a few years
And I'm not gonna lie, its kinda nice, no matter how wrong it is, to just pop a boob in a mouth at 2 am so we can sleep
Post by creamsiclechica on Feb 27, 2013 16:12:29 GMT -5
You are one hundred percent a hero in my eyes. Reading that almost made me cry. What a dedicated person you are, I give you SO much credit. I'd have broken under way less than that. I am truly in awe of your efforts. Amazing!